Jnana-yoga

In modern times, the idea of a single, unified Good can seem outdated or untenable, especially given the wide diversity in culture, values, and perspectives that humans have. It is much easier to simply believe that we are all just different people with different wants and goals. In this essay, rather than proposing any metaphysical or theoretical arguments, I instead make a pragmatic case for holding on to the possibility of a unified understanding of the Good, especially in today's global world, where we are constantly confronted with different views and ways of life.

In the Hindu community, there is often apprehension toward the Christian doctrine of sin and especially the notion of recognizing oneself as a sinner, so much so that Swami Vivekananda famously declared, "it is a sin to call a man a sinner; it is a standing libel on human nature." On the other hand, many Christians also view the Hindu doctrine of avidya (ignorance) with skepticism, feeling that it diminishes the moral gravity of sin by reducing it to a mere lack of knowledge. In this essay, I hope to carefully show that these two doctrines are in fact much more reconcileable than they seem, and that by understanding each other's conception of human error, both traditions stand to gain a deeper understanding of their own.